BRUSSELS (Belgium), Sep 28 (APP): Speakers at international Kashmir conference at European Union (EU) Parliament expressed serious concerns over the grave situation of human rights especially the recent waves of state-terrorism in Indian Held Kashmir (IHK).
The conference on ‘Living Under Occupation – New Roles for Kashmiri Women’ organized by Kashmir Council Europe (EU) in collaboration with Friends of Kashmir Group of the European Parliament to highlight the role of Kashmiri women for the right of self-determination.
Members of EU Parliament, representatives of different organizations and intellectuals from different parts of the world including Europe attended the conference.
Addressing the conference, MEP Raja Afzal Khan said both India and Pakistan are nuclear powers and Kashmir is a nuclear flash point in the region. He asked the international community to pay special attention to block a possible war which could be dangerous not only for Kashmir, Pakistan and India but also for whole world.
Addressing the gathering, MEP Dr Sajjad Karim said, world needs to review situation keenly and give special importance to the Kashmir issue. Appreciating fresh stance of EU on Kashmir issue, he referred answer of high representative of EU to his letter on situation erupted in IHK. He said it is a significant shift of EU on Kashmir as Ms Mogherini insisted over the participation of Kashmiris in the peace process. “Discernable shift in the European Union’s language has taken place in the latest development on the most recent situation in Kashmir”, he said. He also lauded the Friends of Kashmir Group of the European Parliament and Kashmir Council EU for organizing this conference.
Earlier in his welcome address, Chairman Kashmir Council EU Mr. Ali Raza Syed said Indian authorities are involved in severe abuses of human rights in Held Valley. He pointed out that on one hand, the Indian authorities are involved in state-terrorism against the people of Kashmir and on other hand, New Delhi wants to prevent their voices against the abuses. “The conference is one of the series of the events whith to increase awareness about the miseries and hardships of oppressed people of Kashmir, especially Kashmiri women suffering under the Indian occupation”, he expresses.
The conference also focused on mass rape of Kashmiri women in the village of Kunan Poshpura in 1991. Recorded interview of Natasha Rather and Essar Batol the authors of the book titled “Do You Remember Kunan Poshpura” was also made public in the conference.
Moderating the first session of the conference, the Human Rights Activist from Holland Marjan Lucas expressed serious concerns over the arrest of Khurram Parvez, the Kashmiri human rights activist by the Indian authorities. She said, Mr Khurram was due to address this conference but he was denied to travel at Delhi airport and arrested under Public Safety Act (PSA) by the Indian government. She said, two other speakers of the conference Parvez Imroz and Natasha Rather from IHK also could not travel to Brussels due to the situation erupted in IHK.
She announced that we would access Amnesty International regarding current situation in IHK especially illegal imprisonment of Khurram Parvez.
In his speech, Member of EU parliament Ms James Carver said this is important issue and organizing this gathering is significant for raising the problem. He said one of the best lobbies are working to raise the issue of Kashmir at forum of European Parliament.
MEP Ms Anthea Mcintyre termed women’s participation in the conference as significant importance. Condemning the human rights abuses, she said EU deplores violence anywhere in the world including Kashmir.
In her presentation, human rights expert from UK Ms Sadia Mir said women in Indian Held Kashmir are facing severe hardships but unfortunately there is no access of human rights organizations including Amnesty International in the region.
Former member of Brussels Parliament Ms Danielle Caron, prominent Kashmiri figure from UK Sumera Farook, Farzana Afzal and Sabiya Khan also spoke on the occasion.
During the conference, it was also pointed out that India wants to crush the peaceful struggle of Kashmiris by use of brutal force but the people are determined to continue their movement until freedom from Indian occupation.
Member of AJK Assembly and former minister Chaudhary Yaseen and Chairman of Movement for Right of Self-Determination Raja Nejabat Hussain also attended the conference.
APP/ Mansoor/anm/VNS Brussels
